Justin Murrah, Sous Chef: Cottonwood's newest addition is a Texarkana, Texas native and recent graduate of the California Culinary Academy. Having been inspired by his father's cooking, Justin has already filled a long resume in a very short time, with stints at the Tablespoon Bistro, the Fifth Floor, the Grand Café and Aqua in San Francisco. "Cooking is my life", says Justin, and his enthusiasm is evident. Already shaking up the menu with his twist on French-American Bistro-style fare, he is a welcome addition to our kitchen.

Ryan Smith, Chef: A native of the San Francisco Bay area, Ryan Smith found his inspiration and enthusiasm for cooking early in life while working in an old Italian restaurant. Immersed in the melting pot of culinary activity surrounding the Napa Valley, he was driven to attend the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, then returned to work in a number of kitchens and in a number of capacities at The Silverado Country Club. Ryan's muse is in exploring the synergy of food and wine and he will be assisting in developing Cottonwood's extensive wine list. "I enjoy the freedom we have here at Cottonwood to experiment with our nightly specials and look forward to contributing to the excellent local food scene here in Truckee", says Ryan.